UCCS El Pomar_Award-info_2003 CCASLA

PROJECT FACT SHEET
Project Name
El Pomar Library Plaza
Project Location
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Budget
Phase One (built): $550,000.00
Purpose of Project
To create a memorable public space at the heart of the Cragmor Campus, where once
surface parking had dominated the landscape. The mission of the Library Plaza project
was to transform leftover landscape into a space that would foster social intercourse,
provide the campus with a meaningful identity, and present the magnificent mountain
landscape it is part of.
Role of the Landscape Architect
The landscape architect working in collaboration with an architect, authored the Cragmor
Campus Library Green Micro-Master Plan in 2001. The Micro-Master Plan identified the
need to create a significant open-space framework at the heart of the campus. The plan
calls for a plaza space to be built in the general vicinity of the newly constructed El
Pomar Library, where it will serve the library and future academic facilities. In 2002, the
landscape architect was retained to offer full design services, conducting design charettes
and user worksessions, providing conceptual alternatives, design development,
construction documentation and observation. The influence of the landscape architect has
been to plan the future of the 80-acre campus and to design the most significant public
space at the hub of campus activity.
Special Factors
Several special challenges and opportunities were presented for the landscape architect to
come to terms with in the design of the El Pomar Library Plaza. First among them were
the physical attributes of the site: dramatic topography and drainage patterns, exposure to
severe sun and wind, high desert plant materials, and tremendous views of the Rocky
Mountain Front Range, including Pikes Peak. Additionally, the patterns and massing of
future building expansion was planned to respond to topography, views and the
movement of people from east to west across the campus along a serpentine promenade.
The circular nature of the plaza and its position on the hillside in front of the library are
determined to reconcile irregular building patterns while acknowledging the prominence
of the library on the green. Staircases and site walls are utilized to transcend severe slope
conditions and define outdoor spaces. Trees are organized to provide framed views,
shade and comfort where people are likely to gather. At the center of the plaza a water
feature will gather people and nature (the water feature is not built yet and is currently
being designed while funding is being assembled). This focal element is meant to speak
to the history of the springs and the healing nature of water and the special climate in the
region.
The plaza is positioned to command views of the mountain range as well as the future
campus green below. In this sense, it is like a piece of a spatial sequence that cascades
down the hillside, taking in the performance of students on the green and providing its
own stage for the buildings that will one day surround it. The social performance of the
plaza was extremely important to the students, faculty and other anticipated users of the
space. The design team consulted the teachings of Clare Cooper Marcus in the study of
public spaces, designing for the user and creating flexible space for people to gather for
different purposes. The result was a plaza space the put emphasis on edges, where people
tend to gather, and creating a series of different sized spaces with a variety of purposes
and character.
Project Significance
Due to its location and intended role, the El Pomar Library Plaza is the most significant
public space on the campus. It is located at the center of Cragmor’s 80-acre campus and
commands views of Pikes Peak and the future library green. It is intended to provide a
flexible space for the movement and gathering of significant numbers of people,
circulating between classes and stopping to socialize with classmates and friends.
Future academic buildings will frame the plaza space. Each will have its own “front
porch” space that will interact with the plaza. Like box seats in a theater, these front
porches will look onto the social stage of the plaza, linking indoor and outdoor space in
one place at the heart of the campus. The harmony between library and plaza is already
felt. The circular staircase and sunken plaza provides a front porch to the library entrance
and grounds the building to the land it sits on.
Ultimately, one of the primary goals of the green and the plaza is to mend the relationship
with the City of Colorado Springs by providing a greater and more identifiable built
image along its edges. Because the topography of the campus tilts itself toward the town,
the high visibility of the campus, especially at its core, makes it imperative that the
campus core is beautiful and lively. The El Pomar Library Plaza is the first step toward
achieving that goal.
IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS
Project Name
El Pomar Library Plaza
Project Location
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colo.
#1 Existing Conditions/Campus Context Diagram
The diagram presents the existing campus conditions through aerial photography and
serves to provide a general framework for three distinctly different districts on the
campus: the natural, urbane and historic districts.
#2 Site Analysis
The analysis of the site location proposed for the library plaza illustrates the significance
and natural assets including topography, pedestrian flows, views and relationships to
surrounding buildings.
#3 Library Green Outdoor Place Diagram
Diagrams the series of outdoor spaces planned for the library green, including the plaza
space at the nexus of the campus, and a variety of other outdoor spaces that surround the
plaza.
#4 Concept Diagram (Plaza – “Plate Diagram”)
Illustrates one of a few general concepts explored for the plaza. This concept holds that
the plaza space has a direct relationship to the library and also provides a spatial pause on
the hillside for viewing the drama of the mountains and activity in the open green lawn
below.
#5 Design Genesis – Composite Diagram
Early sketch plan study attempts to provide form to the analysis and social diagramming
explored in pre-design phases of the process. The plaza site resonates with power and
position. Early on we can see how the circle reconciles difficult patterns and topography.
#6 Campus Master Plan
This plan illustrates the selected library green and plaza design in context to the entire
Cragmor Campus. The plan illustrates future building expansion surrounding the green
and plaza. The significance of the plaza site and its relationship to surrounding academic
facilities and campus entry can clearly be seen in this plan.
#7 Site Master Plan
This plan illustrates the design for the plaza and other areas of the campus green. Phase
one construction built the plaza, portions of the primary pedestrian promenade, the
terraced planter walls and the primary staircase leading to the future transit stop.
#8 Plaza Focal Element – Water Feature
The design of the water feature is still in schematic stages while funding for the feature is
being assembled. This feature is designed to recall the natural springs of the area and to
gather people near the center of the plaza.
#9 Site Photo – General View
The photo illustrates the relationship between the library (to the left with tower) and the
plaza and the magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains to the west from the plaza.
#10 Site Photo – Plaza from inside Library
The circular shape of the plaza recalls the circular front entry lobby in the library. Shapes
and forms consistently play off the idea that this place is the sacred center of this campus.
The temporary feature seen in the center of the plaza will be replaced by the water feature
once funding is secured.
#11 Site Photo – Terrace Overlook
The plaza is intended to interact with porch-like terraces that overlook the plaza and
future green below. Here, the upper terrace engages itself with the plaza and overlooks
the future green site and views to Pikes Peak.
#12 Site Photo – Plaza
The plaza design was intended to be flexible to accommodate heavy pedestrian traffic
while providing informal gathering space for users. Here is seen how the plaza functions
for both purposes. The low, deep, circular staircase and site walls provide numerous
places for people to informally gather.

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PROJECT FACT SHEET
Project Name
El Pomar Library Plaza
Project Location
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Budget
Phase One (built): $550,000.00
Purpose of Project
To create a memorable public space at the heart of the Cragmor Campus, where once
surface parking had dominated the landscape. The mission of the Library Plaza project
was to transform leftover landscape into a space that would foster social intercourse,
provide the campus with a meaningful identity, and present the magnificent mountain
landscape it is part of.
Role of the Landscape Architect
The landscape architect working in collaboration with an architect, authored the Cragmor
Campus Library Green Micro-Master Plan in 2001. The Micro-Master Plan identified the
need to create a significant open-space framework at the heart of the campus. The plan
calls for a plaza space to be built in the general vicinity of the newly constructed El
Pomar Library, where it will serve the library and future academic facilities. In 2002, the
landscape architect was retained to offer full design services, conducting design charettes
and user worksessions, providing conceptual alternatives, design development,
construction documentation and observation. The influence of the landscape architect has
been to plan the future of the 80-acre campus and to design the most significant public
space at the hub of campus activity.
Special Factors
Several special challenges and opportunities were presented for the landscape architect to
come to terms with in the design of the El Pomar Library Plaza. First among them were
the physical attributes of the site: dramatic topography and drainage patterns, exposure to
severe sun and wind, high desert plant materials, and tremendous views of the Rocky
Mountain Front Range, including Pikes Peak. Additionally, the patterns and massing of
future building expansion was planned to respond to topography, views and the
movement of people from east to west across the campus along a serpentine promenade.
The circular nature of the plaza and its position on the hillside in front of the library are
determined to reconcile irregular building patterns while acknowledging the prominence
of the library on the green. Staircases and site walls are utilized to transcend severe slope
conditions and define outdoor spaces. Trees are organized to provide framed views,
shade and comfort where people are likely to gather. At the center of the plaza a water
feature will gather people and nature (the water feature is not built yet and is currently
being designed while funding is being assembled). This focal element is meant to speak
to the history of the springs and the healing nature of water and the special climate in the
region.
The plaza is positioned to command views of the mountain range as well as the future
campus green below. In this sense, it is like a piece of a spatial sequence that cascades
down the hillside, taking in the performance of students on the green and providing its
own stage for the buildings that will one day surround it. The social performance of the
plaza was extremely important to the students, faculty and other anticipated users of the
space. The design team consulted the teachings of Clare Cooper Marcus in the study of
public spaces, designing for the user and creating flexible space for people to gather for
different purposes. The result was a plaza space the put emphasis on edges, where people
tend to gather, and creating a series of different sized spaces with a variety of purposes
and character.
Project Significance
Due to its location and intended role, the El Pomar Library Plaza is the most significant
public space on the campus. It is located at the center of Cragmor’s 80-acre campus and
commands views of Pikes Peak and the future library green. It is intended to provide a
flexible space for the movement and gathering of significant numbers of people,
circulating between classes and stopping to socialize with classmates and friends.
Future academic buildings will frame the plaza space. Each will have its own “front
porch” space that will interact with the plaza. Like box seats in a theater, these front
porches will look onto the social stage of the plaza, linking indoor and outdoor space in
one place at the heart of the campus. The harmony between library and plaza is already
felt. The circular staircase and sunken plaza provides a front porch to the library entrance
and grounds the building to the land it sits on.
Ultimately, one of the primary goals of the green and the plaza is to mend the relationship
with the City of Colorado Springs by providing a greater and more identifiable built
image along its edges. Because the topography of the campus tilts itself toward the town,
the high visibility of the campus, especially at its core, makes it imperative that the
campus core is beautiful and lively. The El Pomar Library Plaza is the first step toward
achieving that goal.
IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS
Project Name
El Pomar Library Plaza
Project Location
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colo.
#1 Existing Conditions/Campus Context Diagram
The diagram presents the existing campus conditions through aerial photography and
serves to provide a general framework for three distinctly different districts on the
campus: the natural, urbane and historic districts.
#2 Site Analysis
The analysis of the site location proposed for the library plaza illustrates the significance
and natural assets including topography, pedestrian flows, views and relationships to
surrounding buildings.
#3 Library Green Outdoor Place Diagram
Diagrams the series of outdoor spaces planned for the library green, including the plaza
space at the nexus of the campus, and a variety of other outdoor spaces that surround the
plaza.
#4 Concept Diagram (Plaza – “Plate Diagram”)
Illustrates one of a few general concepts explored for the plaza. This concept holds that
the plaza space has a direct relationship to the library and also provides a spatial pause on
the hillside for viewing the drama of the mountains and activity in the open green lawn
below.
#5 Design Genesis – Composite Diagram
Early sketch plan study attempts to provide form to the analysis and social diagramming
explored in pre-design phases of the process. The plaza site resonates with power and
position. Early on we can see how the circle reconciles difficult patterns and topography.
#6 Campus Master Plan
This plan illustrates the selected library green and plaza design in context to the entire
Cragmor Campus. The plan illustrates future building expansion surrounding the green
and plaza. The significance of the plaza site and its relationship to surrounding academic
facilities and campus entry can clearly be seen in this plan.
#7 Site Master Plan
This plan illustrates the design for the plaza and other areas of the campus green. Phase
one construction built the plaza, portions of the primary pedestrian promenade, the
terraced planter walls and the primary staircase leading to the future transit stop.
#8 Plaza Focal Element – Water Feature
The design of the water feature is still in schematic stages while funding for the feature is
being assembled. This feature is designed to recall the natural springs of the area and to
gather people near the center of the plaza.
#9 Site Photo – General View
The photo illustrates the relationship between the library (to the left with tower) and the
plaza and the magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains to the west from the plaza.
#10 Site Photo – Plaza from inside Library
The circular shape of the plaza recalls the circular front entry lobby in the library. Shapes
and forms consistently play off the idea that this place is the sacred center of this campus.
The temporary feature seen in the center of the plaza will be replaced by the water feature
once funding is secured.
#11 Site Photo – Terrace Overlook
The plaza is intended to interact with porch-like terraces that overlook the plaza and
future green below. Here, the upper terrace engages itself with the plaza and overlooks
the future green site and views to Pikes Peak.
#12 Site Photo – Plaza
The plaza design was intended to be flexible to accommodate heavy pedestrian traffic
while providing informal gathering space for users. Here is seen how the plaza functions
for both purposes. The low, deep, circular staircase and site walls provide numerous
places for people to informally gather.